VENKATACHALAM Vs. DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AND DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is the father of the detenu Raghu. The detenu was incarcerated by order dated 13. 6. 2007 of the first respondent under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982) branding him as a Bootlegger. Hence, the petitioner seeks a writ of Habeas Corpus to call for the records in connection with the order of detention passed by the first respondent dated 13. 6. 2007 in Cr. M. P. No. 23/2007 against his son, who is now confined at Central Prison, Tiruchirappalli, to set aside the same and to direct the respondents to produce the above said detenu before this Court and set him at liberty.

(2.) ON 25. 4. 2007, the detenu had sold illicit arrack containing atropine of 3. 2 mg per 100 ml. A case was registered in Crime No. 93/2007 on the file of Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Perambalur for the offences punishable under Section 4 (1) (aaa) r/w 4 (1-A) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act.

(3.) THE first respondent, taking note of the above case as a ground case and finding that there are four adverse cases of alike nature and having satisfied that there is a compelling necessity to detain the detenu in order to prevent him from indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order and public health, ordered his detention dubbing him as a bootlegger.